What Parts do I Need to Fat Tow My Ram Rebel Behind My Class A Motorhome?

Updated 11/06/2026 | Published 11/03/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Roadmaster Dual Hitch Receiver Adapter - 2" Hitch - 4" Drop or Rise - 10,000 lb

(1015)

$219.86

Roadmaster Universal Hy-Power Diode Wiring Kit

(340)

$90.42

Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(3695)

$575.00

Roadmaster Sterling All-Terrain Tow Bar - Non-Binding - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 8,000 lbs

(167)

$1375.00

Roadmaster 80" Hybrid Coiled-to-Straight Safety Cables - Double Hook - 10,000 lbs - Qty 2

(101)

$92.90

Roadmaster Universal Stop Light Switch Kit

(715)

$129.99

Roadmaster Falcon 3HD Tow Bar - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 10,000 lbs

(69)

$1070.00

Replacement Breakaway System for Curt RVibrake Flat Tow Braking Systems

(28)

$64.26

Question:

Good Morning, My wife and I have recently purchased a 2017 Winnebago Journey 36M. The motorhome came with a Blue Ox Flat Tow System that is rated at 6500 pounds. I want to flat tow our 2017 Ram 1500 Rebel but will need to upgrade the system to 10000 tow capacity. The system included an RVi Brake 2 system but it is missing the breakaway switch. I checked and the system appears to operate. I would appreciate it if you could send me an estimate for all of the equipment that would be needed including a cost of installation at etrailer. Thanks, Don

asked by: Don N

Expert Reply:

Hello Don,

Welcome to etrailer, I'm glad you found us! Congrats on the RV, that is quite the nice motorhome!!

Thanks for getting back to me with the additional information. I agree, it's probably a good idea to bump up the tow bar capacity since your truck has a curb weight of up to 5,750 lbs. That way, you'll have some extra capacity if you're hauling anything in the bed while flat towing. The 8K tow bar should give you plenty of room, but I included the 10K option just in case you'd rather go that route. Just be sure to stay within your motorhome's towing capacity and the ratings of the other towing components.

Here are the parts you will need:

- Base Plate: Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms # RM-522205-5

- Tow Bar: Roadmaster Sterling All-Terrain Tow Bar - Non-Binding - RV Mount - 2" Hitch - 8,000 lbs # RM-576, or 10K # RM27NQ, with the 10K you will also need # RM-674.

- Wiring: Roadmaster Universal Hy-Power Diode Wiring Kit # RM-152

- Brake Light Switch: Roadmaster Universal Stop Light Switch Kit # RM-751000

- Curt Breakaway: Replacement Breakaway System for Curt RVibrake Flat Tow Braking Systems # RVI97FR

We will be reaching out to you about the installation. I just need to confirm that we can install your braking system since it wasn't purchased through us.

I know you mentioned Blue Ox, but since we don't currently have an installation video for the Roadmaster setup, we should be able to offer you a better deal on that installation.

expert reply by: Kate F

Don

11/3/2026

Hi Katy, Sorry about it's a 2019 Ram 1500 rebel. The flat tow system came with the 6,000 tow bar, the "pins" that fit into the baseplate, an 7-6 way electrical cord, a piece of wire that fits into the RVi Break 2 that I think is for the breakaway switch and a 6,000 pound drop receiver. But I believe that I need to upgrade the flat tow system to 10,000 pounds. Thanks, Don

Kate F.

11/4/2026

@Don I revised my answer above. I went with the Roadmaster because I am trying to get you a good deal with the install. I do not like one of the brands over the other, they are both fantastic. I do not set-up the installs, but my buddy Will does and he is the best! He will be reaching out through email so you can contact him. If you need anything else from my end, just say the word!

Don

11/5/2026

@KateF Thank you for the information I will be waiting to hear from Will. Thanks Don

Kate F.

11/5/2026

@Don He will be in contact soon. He was waiting to hear back from install about the braking system.

Kate F.

11/6/2026

@Don Buckle in, this is going to be a long-winded answer! I want to make sure I cover all your questions. First, you're in great hands with Will! He's one of our veterans in Customer Service. I worked side by side with him before moving to another department, and he taught me quite a bit when I first started. He's still my go-to guy whenever I need help from Customer Service, so I have a lot of confidence in him! Now, onto those tow bars! I can see why the pricing caught your attention. You would think the higher-capacity tow bar would cost more, but there are a few differences. The Roadmaster Sterling All-Terrain # RM-576 has an 8,000-lb capacity and is made from lightweight aluminum, weighing about 35 lbs. It also includes safety cables and an electrical cord, so you're getting more of what you need with the tow bar. The Roadmaster Falcon 3HD # RM27NQ has a 10,000-lb capacity and is made from steel, weighing about 45 lbs. Both have non-binding arms for easier disconnecting. The Falcon doesn't include safety cables, so you will want to add the Roadmaster 80" Safety Cables # RM-674, rated for 10,000 lbs. Even with those added, the Falcon is still the more affordable option. As for the braking system, you don't have to use Roadmaster just because you're using their tow bar and base plates. You can use another manufacturer's braking system as long as it's compatible with your truck and motorhome. The Curt RViBrake Shadow 2 that Will recommended is one option, but I have another worth considering, especially if you plan on keeping your Rebel for a while. Your 2017 Winnebago Journey 36M has air brakes, so you can also consider the Demco Air Force One # DM26VR. This is actually one of our installers' favorite systems to install! It's a proportional braking system that uses the motorhome's air brakes to apply the brakes in your truck. It's a one-time installation, so you won't have to set up and remove a portable braking system every time you tow. You simply connect the air line when hooking up, and it includes wireless monitoring so you can see when the brakes are being applied. We would just need to confirm the installation requirements for your Journey and Rebel. One important thing to remember is that regardless of which braking system you choose, you will still need to follow Ram's procedure for preparing your Rebel to be flat towed, also called dinghy towing. You can find the instructions in your 2019 Ram 1500 owner's manual under Recreational Towing, with the four-wheel-drive instructions beginning on page 396 of the new-body-style manual. You will want to follow these steps every time to avoid damaging your drivetrain. As for package pricing, we don't offer a package deal, so the parts are priced individually. However, there is a pretty big perk to having us do your installation! A complete flat tow installation can cost thousands of dollars in labor, but since we don't have an installation video for the Roadmaster base plates on a 2019 Ram 1500 Rebel, we're able to offer you the installation for free! We actually have customers drive from all over the country to have their flat tow setups installed, mainly for this reason. We love creating installation videos to help people tackling these projects at home, and this gives us the opportunity to do just that. Also, since you already have the RViBrake 2, you may be able to sell it and put that money toward your new braking system to help offset the cost. I hope that helps clear things up! I know Will is off until Monday, are you ok with waiting til Monday to set things up? I figure this gives you some time to look up and research some things I mentioned above. I also attached a great help article, "Must-Have Flat Towing Components." If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask away, that is what I am here for =)

Helpful Links

faq-towing-a-vehicle-overview.aspx

tv-install-demco-supplemental-braking-system-2019-ram-1500-dm26vr.aspx

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